God Christmas Gift - Part I Series

Sermon – November 25, 2001

Title: The Gift of God - Part I

Text: 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Introduction:

No doubt, we all have receive some gifts at Christmas that we could never use or perhaps could never figure what it was. Many of these are tucked away in the attic or in a closet.

Illustration:

Worst Gift

An American Express survey about Christmas gifts found that the fruitcake was chosen most often

(31%) from a list of “worst” holiday gifts. It even finished ahead of “no gift at all.” When asked

how to dispose of a bad gift, 30% would hide it in the closet, 21% would return it, and 19% would

give it away. This suggests that the Christmas fruitcake might get recycled as a gift for the host of

New Year’s party. - Resource, Mar/Apr, 1990

The best gift ever given was given by God that first Christmas. It was not wrapped with beautiful paper and frilly bows, but wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

The apostle Paul looked at Jesus and said, "I can’t describe Him. All I can do is fall on my knees and thank God for His indescribable gift."

Many have tried by prose, poetry, song or music to characterize this glorious gift but failed to appropriately describe Him. Musicians have composed some of their greatest music on this theme: Handel’s "Messiah," Bach’s Christmas Oratorio," & the beautiful hymns, "Joy to the World," "Silent Night, Holy Night," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," & my favorite, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

Some of the greatest music our ears will ever hear were written about God’s indescribable gift.

Poets & painters & sculptors have taken up the tools of their trade to pay tribute to Jesus, the gift of God’s love.

This sermon began as a single message, but has developed into a series of sermons on the gift of God.

I. The Gift Of God Was Unveiled for the World To See.

Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Note: Many times, at Christmas, we want to try and keep the gift that we have a secret. God wants the world to know of the gift that is made available through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember the song, “It Is No Secret What God Can Do.”

A. Revealed to Adam and Eve in the garden.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it

shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

B. Revealed to the Patriarchs

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall

all families of the earth be blessed.

C. Revealed to the prophets

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear

a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his

shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting

Father, The Prince of Peace.

D. Revealed to the wisemen

Mt 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and

are come to worship him.

E. Revealed by the angels

1. To Mary and Joseph

Matt 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto

him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for

that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,

named Nazareth,

Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the

Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Lu 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and

the power of the Highest shall overshdow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be

born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

2. To the shepherds

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.